The decision to abandon ship can have grave consequences and should never be taken lightly. For that reason, it’s important to keep a clear head and remain calm. The very first step you need to take when you are debating when and how to abandon ship is to consider if it’s truly necessary.
This may sound strange, but it is critical. More than one boater has abandoned ship only to make the situation worse. This is because there are times when a boat is simply disabled. Or it begins to sink but only partially submerges. In those cases, it is likely safer to remain on the boat. Your survival ability on a life raft can decrease significantly. You have fewer resources and are harder to spot on a life raft. A disabled vessel may be able to handle rough seas and weather better than a life raft as well.
For this reason, abandoning ship should only be done when you are certain your vessel is going to sink. If you are confident that you and your crew are in danger if you remain, it’s time to leave.
This is when keeping a clear head is so important. Your pulse will be racing. If you have passengers on board they may be panicking. Stay calm and organized. You will need to move quickly but safely.
These are the initial steps you want to take before you even look at your life raft.
• Put on all available waterproof clothing, including gloves, headgear, and life jacket. Make sure every person on board has a proper life jacket and they are wearing it.
• Collect your survival kit. If possible get extra blankets or clothing. It’s good to have these in a dry bag for emergencies.. Your survival kit should contain some flares, food and water, a handheld VHF radio and something like an EPIRB. This will help rescuers find you as soon as possible. It’s also good to have a search and rescue transponder (SART) as well.
• Note your present position. This will help rescuers narrow down where to search. Your EPIRB and GPS are important, but be thorough. Confirm your location as you are preparing to abandon ship.
• Send out MAYDAY message.
REMEMBER: These are taken very seriously by the Coast Guard. A false MAYDAY is a criminal offense. You can get fined for making one as a joke or when they don’t apply.
If you are abandoning ship, the Coast Guard and rescue teams need to know. Here’s an example of a MAYDAY you can send.
• Make sure your VHF radio is on channel 16. This is the channel reserved for emergency communications
• You should have a DSC enabled radio. Press the DISTRESS button. The radio should beep. This will transmit all of your boat’s informationt o the Coast Guard.
• Press the transmit button and repeated MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
• State the name of your vessel and your boat ID number
• State your position
• Now you can detail the nature of the emergency. Let the coast Guard and rescuers know what has happened. Also explain how many people are on board. Finally, explain the assistance you require. For example, you might say “Our engine caught fire. There are four of us on board. We are abandoning ship and need immediate rescue.”
• Alert rescuers if there are any injuries that have occurred. This can affect the nature of how they rescue you, so it’s important. If someone has had a heart attack, for instance. Rescuers need to know.
• Include any additional, relevant info that may help rescue. This could include the type of boat you have. You may also mention the size or color. Anything that can help rescuers find you faster.
• Provide the rescuers with a timeline if at all possible. If your boat is sinking, let them know approximately how much time you think you have. If the boat will be submerged before help can arrive, they need to know. Otherwise they’ll be looking for something that’s not there.
• Wait for a response for as long as you safely can. This is a crucial step. If no one heard your MAYDAY then it won’t do you much good. Of course, you may only have a short amount of time. But repeat your message for as long as you safely can. If your emergency and position are not confirmed by the Coast Guard, rescuers will likely not be coming.
The Bottom Line
Abandoning a ship is going to be a stressful and frightening situation. Rescue could be an hour away or days away. No matter what happens, keeping your head is important. Being prepared is key for a quick and efficient rescue. You must have a VHF radio and an EPIRB. Consider including a SAT phone as well. Have an abandon ship bag at the ready. Communication is the most important tool for survival in this situation. VHF radios don’t always have the range necessary to keep you seen and heard. Maybe sure you have at least one backup, and ideally more.
Be familiar with your emergency devices. The EPIRB, the SART, the life raft and flares. Know how to use them and make sure your crew does as well. Keep others calm as you keep yourself calm. Trust in your training and knowledge to help you through.
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